Fracture splint



Sept. 11,- 1945.

H. s. WILLIAMS 7 FRACTURE SPLINT Filed Feb. 2, 1942 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 11, 1945 UNI-TED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,384,779 FRACTURE SPLINf-l Howard S. Williams, Hartford, Conn.

Application February 2, 1942, Serial No. 429,330

3 Claims. (01. 12884) This invention relates to surgical splints and particularly to splint adapted for fractures of the leg or arm.

An object of the present invention is,to pro vide a conveniently carried splint that can be packed within a small space and when required for use may be quickly assembled and applied to the patient with minimum inconvenience and movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a winding device at the foot end of the splint so that traction may be applied when the splint has been applied and straps connected from the ankle or wrist to the winding device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a substantially half circular member at the upper or thigh end of the splint adapted to fit partially about the thigh and adapted to be retained in position thereon by straps attached to the ends of the curved member tied together about the thigh.

And finally it is an object to make the splint members of metal rods, there being upper and lower parts separable from each other and being connected together to form rigid-members long enough to fit the full length of a leg or arm, and there being a detachable foot retainer and stand formed also of metal rods.

One feature of importance is that the winding device for applying traction to the leg or arm is in the form of a wire bent around the integral end portion of the splint, this member having an arm or lever formed thereon by means of which the device may be turned to apply traction and held in adjusted position by engaging the end of the lever over one of the side rods.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a flexible pad slidable to any position along the side rods which may be used to support the leg below thefractured or injured portion.

And finally it is a feature of the invention to connect the curved or half circular thigh portion to the upper side rodsin a manner to retain the curved portion at an angle to the plane of the side rods when in position so that the thigh member willmaintain its position about the thigh and the side rods will extend parallelly but in opposite disposed relation to each other, that is, one rod will extend on the inside and the other rod will extend on the outside of the leg.

With these andother objects in view the invention may include the features of construction and operation set forth in the followin specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing annexedhereto and forming a part of this specification, I have shown the invention embodied in a leg splint but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawing is not to be construed as defining or limit-ing the scope of the invention, the claims :appended to this specification'being relied upon for that purpose.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of splint made according to the present invention and shown in position upon the leg of a bers separated.

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the connection for mounting the foot support and stand in position on the splint; and

. Fig. dis a sectional View showing a-preferred form of swivel connection between the curved thigh member and one of the side rods of the splint.

In the above mentioned drawing there have been shown two embodiments of theinvention which are now deemed preferable, but it. is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Briefly, and in its preferred aspect, the invention may include the following principal parts: First, rigid side rods preferably of metal formed of members adapted to be coupled together in alinement; second, a thigh member swivelly connected to the upper ends of two side rods and adapted to fit partially about the patients leg; third, a winding or traction device mounted on the lower member of the side rods; fourth, a supporting pad movable along the side rods; fifth, a foot support detachably attached adjustably to the side rods; sixth, a supporting stand for the side-rods detachably mountable of separable parts. The upper members Ill have sleeves secured at their lower ends into which may fit the upper ends of side rods of a member Ill formed of a bent metal rod and having an integral cross piece I2 at its lower end. The combined length of the upper members IIl and the side portions of lower member Ill are sufficient to reach from a patients thigh to beyond his foot when in operative position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. I

At the upper or thigh end of the side members lIl is a curved member I3 comprising a curved rigid rod enclosed within a flexible and;

compressible tube such as rubber. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig.- '2 the curved thigh member is looped at its opposite ends which engage loops formed in the upper ends of the side rods Ill thigh member and side rods are formed 3 as small as possible so that the thigh member I3 is prevented from swinging beyond a position about at right angles to the side rods 'I fl The member 53, however, can swing freely to positions to permit compact carrying when not in use. When applied as shown in Fig. 1 the thigh member I3 fits snugly and. comfortably partially around the leg below the thigh and' holds the side rods lil so that oneis on the inside and the other on the outside of the leg.

To hold the thigh member i=3 in position a strap I4 may extend through the tube forming part of the thigh member I3 so that the strap ends may be tied or buckled together as shown in Fig. 1.

In Figs. 3 and 5 is-shown a modified form of thigh member It the ends of the curved rod of which are provided with short sleeves 21. welded or otherwise permanently fastened thereto at a slight angle. The upper end of each side rod IIl is bent as shown in Fig. 5 and extends through the sleeve. The end of this bent portion of the side rod may be headed slightly to prevent removal of the side rod I b from the thigh member Hi. By the provision of the bend at the upper ends of the side rods I!) the thigh member I4 when inoperative position'is held'at an angle to -the side rods It to properly fitthe patient but permits compactly packing this part of the splint for carrying it about.

To apply traction to the leg after placing the splint with the thigh member I3 and straps l4 securely fastened together inpo'sition, about the The loops of both the patientsthigh, the lower'member Ill is connected to the upper side rods I I] by engaging the upper ends of member I0 within the sleeves I5 secured to the lower ends of the side rods m 1 A freely rotatable member i6 is bent about the transverse portion I2 of the lower member Ill which may have the free ends of straps! 5 passed through a space formed'between portions of the member and the crosspiece of the member I0 By rotating the member I6 about the transverse bar I2 of member Iu the straps I! may be drawn up tightly as shown-in Fig. 1 and the lever extending from the member It -may engage over one of the side rods as shown to retain the straps shown best in Fig. 2. Also a stand 20 may be provided to raise the splint from the ground to facilitate binding the leg. This member 20 also may have spring arms 2| at its opposite ends detachably engageable with the side rods Ill similarly to the members I9.

To support a portion of apatients leg adjacent a fracture or injury a soft flexible pad 22 may be provided having looped straps 23 engaging the side rods lfl 'so that the pad may be positioned wherever needed along the side rods.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a detail view of the 'connection between an arm of the stand 29 or support I8 and its spring arm 2| or I9. The 'opositeends of the rod from which the supoprt 'lB'or "stand 20 is made are twisted as shown to form a torsional spring 26 at each end. The end of a spring arm i9 passes through the axis ofthe spring 28 and has its free end bent as at 24 to prevent separation of the members. The ex treme end of the rod forming the support I8 as shown at 25 is contacted by a portion of the spring arm I9 to resiliently hold the arm I9 over a side rod Ifl when in position on the splint.

To apply the splint to a fractured or severely injured leg the thigh member I3 is first placed below the thigh with the patient ina recumbent position and thestrap I4 fastened around the upper part of the thigh. The lower member Ifl then has its side arms engaged with the sleeves I 5. Straps 'II are then placed about the patients ankle as seen in Fig. 1 and their free ends passed through a loop in the traction or Winding member I6. With the injured leg under traction appliedby turning the member IE it can be raised and wrapped with the pad 22 supporting the leg below the fracture. To facilitate binding 'the leg and foot, the stand can be snapped in place to hold the side rods I0 and HP above the ground.

By the swivel connection for thethigh member I3 shown in Fig. 5 this member I3 is held substantially at right angles to the side rods IE1 when the splint is applied to a patient. This member I3 fits comfortably around the back of the thigh and when strapped in position permits traction to be applied to the leg without discomfort. The sleeves 2'! through which the upper bent ends of the side rods Ill extend may be brazed as shown along one side to bevelled ends of the thigh member. As shown in Fig. 3 the thigh member I3 has its sleeves 21 covered by the flexible tubular member surrounding it.

I claim as my invention:

1. A leg splint comprising in combination, a pair of elongated side rods, a member at one end of said rods adapted to engage partially about the thigh of a patient, a foot rest comprising a rod bent into substantial U shape, the ends of said U shape rod being twisted to form integral helical springs, and arms each having an end engaging within a spring and having their opposite ends adapted to be positioned over said side rods to retain saidfoot rest in any'adjusted position along said siderods.

2. A traction splint comprising in combination, a pair of side rods, a curved member connected at its oposite ends to an end'of said side rods, flexible means toretain-s-aid curved member in position on a patient, a lower member having integrally formed side rods connected to said first mentioned side rods, traction applying means including a strap member engaging a patient at one end and having its opposite end extended to the end of saidlower member, a member rotatably mounted on the central portion of said lower member, and an arm on said rotatable member at one side thereof, whereby when said straps are drawn up by said rotatable member said arm may be engaged over a side arm to lock said traction means in traction applying position.

3. A traction splint comprising in combination, a pair of side rods, a rigid curved member hingedly connected at its opposite ends to an end of said side rods, flexible means to retain said curved member in position on a patient, a lower member having integrally formed side rods rigidly connected to said first mentioned side rods, traction applying means on said lower member ineluding a strap member engaging a patient at one end and having its opposite end extended to the central portion of said lower member, a bent wire member rotatably mounted on the central portion of said lower member and about which said strap member may be wrapped, and an integral arm on said rotatable member at one side thereof, whereby when said straps are drawn up by said rotatable member said integral arm may be engaged over a side arm to lock said traction means in traction applying position.

HOWARD S. WILLIAMS. 

